Spineless India lose No. 1 status and the series

Birmingham: A spineless India Saturday tamely surrendered their number one status to a ruthless England as they slumped to an innings and 242-run defeat to allow the hosts clinch the completely lop-sided four-match series by taking a 3-0 lead here.

India's nearly 20 months reign as the number one ranked Test team could not have ended in a more shambolic manner as they folded up for a paltry 244 in the second innings with an entire day to spare in what has turned out to be one of their worst overseas tours in recent history.

After conceding a mammoth first innings lead 486, the Indians had to bat out of their skins to save the game but the famed batting line-up fell like a pack of cards yet again to give the hosts their second successive victory within four days.

In Image: England captain Andrew Strauss, second left, celebrates with team mates Graeme Swann, second right, and Matt Prior after beating India